EAST LANSING, Mich. — The City of East Lansing announced today that it will be enrolling employees in the State of Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency Work Share Program to help address the financial impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Work Share Program will allow the City to retain employees at reduced work hours (30-60 percent reduction in hours) for the months of June and July, and have their pay supplemented by state unemployment and federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Health insurance and other benefits will be maintained for employees through the City. Based on the 97 full-time and part-time employees currently identified to be enrolled in the program, the City will save approximately $317,000 over four pay periods. This service reduction will not impact essential public safety and public works services for the community.
“Participating in the Work Share Program will allow the City to save on costs in these challenging financial times, while continuing services at a level that minimizes negative impacts on residents,” said East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas.
As a part of the program and due to reduced staff hours, East Lansing City Hall and the East Lansing 54B District Court will be closed to the public on Fridays upon re-opening, which is still tentatively planned for Monday, June 15 at this time. Upon re-opening, the building will be open to the public Monday-Thursday (hours TBA). Additional re-opening details will be provided soon.